Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-16
POOR COQUETTES.
The vain, Fooli.h Creatures Compared
with tho Household Deity.
daV
Chambers Journal.

Chambers Journal.
theoretically, men hold coquettes in
detestation. Unfortunately in this work
a-day word tseory and practice are very
often out Of harmony, and, as we some
times rise above our creeds, so some
times ne fall below them. l. is men who
sink most fre quentlY below their Cher
ished theory, for, though the fact may be
disputed, it is the COQuettes who absorb
the lion share of their admiration. We
do not speak here of the old Campaigner5
who have had their fling, and have out
grown the piQuant charms OF girlish Wlles,
but of the young men VINO have still to
learn by dire experience that the thral-
dom of two blue eyes may be cruel
thraldom, and Ia belle dame sans merci
tickle mistress. They may not love these
capriCiOus fIts with the best love Of
which thew are capable; they may not re-
spect them, but Ghey like them and ad-
mire them, and talk to them, and tiirt
with them, and seem to love them.
Is such an admiration worth the hay-
ing? Perhaps not. But WOman's ma
ture, which Graves love so intensely, if
the real thing be denied her, finds some
solace in its brilliant semblanCe Paste
diamonds will sometimes serve the pur-
pose of the pure gem. The homage and
admiration Of the many cannot atone to
her for q lost love, but TO some degree
they will bring allevIation. A crust is
better than no bread.
To some men, notOriety is so necessary,
that they would rataer be notorious by
evil doing than languisn in ObscuTity,
mediocre and unknown. BY women, who
are toe often vain and self-cOnsCiOus, ad-
miratiOn, which is loves counterfeit, is
unduly priz5d. They have missed the
reality; but while they clutch the
shadow, it is possible to deceive
others as to their real loss; for
here truth and talsehOOd are so
deity mingled, that dreams will pass
| for realities and realities for dreams. 1t
! IS something to know ones self enViable,
| If enviable only by reputation. Such
misplaced envy eau scarcely Iail to fill
! them with scOrn and wonder and bitter
ness; and yet, because human magnetism
| is so potent, they are tempted to fancy
that after all there is something in it.
And if the young men of their ecquAin-
| lance, young men who are for the most
part cynical or frivolous, prefer paste
| Jewels, who can blame them that, instead
of striving to be ster Ing diamonds, in
Hottest aim they scarcely soar beyond a
polished imitation?
Naturally, men turn to women for the
chief pleasure OF their leisure hours, look
ing to them to soOth and soften and to
render pleasant q thOrny way; but it is
not 10 the women who have chosen to be-
come their rivals that they care to turn.
Such women may instruct, but our gilded
youth do not wish to be instructed.
What they desire is to be entertained;
and here the fair Coquette will serve
their purpose. The woman who has msde
| it her cue to please is never dull; her
highest aim is to give pleasure, and be-
cause she is content to spare neither
time nor pains, she will succeed. COnse-
quently, of these two classes, there is no
doubt which is the more pleasing TO Gre
atoms lords. The generality of men
there are of course many honorable ex-
ceptions-have strong prejudice, al
most amounting to antipathy, against
learned women. They feel their own do
main to be invaded, their oldest and most
cherished principles to De violated, and
! though they are too valiant to acknowl-
edge awe, the uncomfortable suspicion
that they may be some day calico
upon to vindicate their superiority is dis
pleasing to them. Their cause IS good,
and they have no fear for their inherited
laurels, but long inaction has made them
indolent, and ease is a pleasant thing,
and they would rather go on in the good
old way, as in the good old days. 1t is
hard, after generations of undisputed
sovereignty, that fight for it should be
remotely possible. Women, say the So
called lords, are charming in their place,
if only they would know that place, and
keep it.
/ To such men, and emphatically they
are many, the vainest, foolishest coquette
is in comparison q household deity. Be
it reasonable or not, such feelings are
not unnatural. There is something
ignominious in the thought of being
superseded, and by woman.